Jim, the he black and white looks absolutely real, something I would expect to see in Alaska. If there are Short comings only you will see them. i do woodwork as another hobby, I like to build larger pieces. When I finish a project I can point out every flaw in it. No one else can find them. Why, when they look at it, they see the whole picture. We tend to dwell on the flaws. It in our nature to do that. I built a custom buffet for my wife 2 years ago. I can find every flaw I made, it won a contest on the Handyman Club magazine. So..... you made are a great looking building, so good that when I saw the B&W photo, I thought it was a real building. It's what you shot for, and accomplished. Good work. Dale
Nothing too earth-shaking, but I spent about an hour and a half upgrading the couplers on my rolling stock and locomotives with Kade 158s. Slowly working toward the goal of simple, sturdy, reliable.
I think it looks great as well Dale, I dont know much as to why the BNSF didnt think too much of these locomotives. I hit a loaded semi truck at 50mph with one, it stayed on the rails on a curve. So I think they are just fine LOL. Yours looks just like it should I think. I modeled the one I was in, would like to show it, the photo of your jogged my memory about the whole thing "it's a good thing" yesterday. Wrote a little story about it, I think it was about as good a therapy as any shrink could have done. I will get some pictures and post them, not trying to steal you thunder at all. I always thought these EMD's had clean lines, Always enjoyed running them, made smooth power when you wanted it, didnt have to wind your watch waiting for an EMD to go to work :>). Anyway thanks for posting your efforts.
There is nothing small about upgrading hardware, the goal is to have your rolling working as smoothly as possible. It not the most fun thing to do, but probably one of the most important.
Tom, I'll take the compliment, thank you. The more I work with these the more I like the Red/Silver scheme. I kind of wish we could see these cleaned up and used. There is something about the modern motive power I like. Maybe it's because I can run down the road a couple of miles and see what's coming into the port or heading down to Catoosa and catching the big trains heading North or South on the mainline. The grandkids will tag along when they are here. While the clean units look nice, I like the personality of the dirty ones. I would love to see pictures of what you have done. Again guys, thank you very much for the compliments. Dale
I agree with the other folks. The time your spending right now, paying attention to the couplers will pay huge dividends in the future of you pike, paying attention to the correct height as well will make your MRR a more trouble free operation. Changing or adjusting the height can be a real PIA, but is certainly worth it in the long run. Would like to see some photos of your efforts, like to see what folks are doing. Regards,
I hear you Dale, I have a great Nephew that I have to tie a rope around, when we go past a train, man he likes it. I so much wish I could take him for a ride but with all the cameras "both inward and outward facing" is has become practically impossible to do anymore. Sometimes I dont care for "progress". Thanks to all,
I completed a 50' Plug Door Boxcar for a friend (CC&CI 60027). I also placed decals on an old AHM 3 bay covered hopper. I don't think the CSS&SB had any if this kind of hopper, but I had decals on hand for a Boxcar, so I made it work.
Kokomo D&RGW water tank Just finished up my D&RGW water tank for Kokomo, CO. It's built as it was in the early 20's, some decade after the line was abandoned but just shortly before it was removed. My engineer wants to know who left the bloody thing in the middle of the roadbed.... Cheers, Jeff.
Thanks, guys. The base kit is the Durango Press D&RGW tank, but I re-cut the roof to make it round (instead of octagonal), and added Wild West Models shake shingles. Pictures of the prototype in this period are pretty scarce; but this view was enough to work out most of it: http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cd...n/p15330coll22/id/12391/rv/singleitem/rec/145 Cheers, Jeff.
I got tired of seeing my gondolas and flatcars running around empty. Store-bought loads are over the top on prices and it seems not much variety. So I am now making loads. I will post pictures when I get some done. Think plastruct, coffee stir sticks, scale lumber and chart tape. I post pictures soon.
